Imprisoned!

Xiao Qing was furious, but she knew she couldn't be forceful now. She suppressed her anger and pleaded, "Please, please be lenient. We really have something very important to tell Lord Ye."

"I already told you Lord Ye isn't here, yet you keep making a scene. Get out!"

The gatekeeper remained unmoved and slammed the gate shut, shutting the two out.

"What should we do?" A Ming looked at Xiao Qing anxiously, his eyes filled with helplessness.

Xiao Qing bit her lower lip, pondered for a moment, and then resolutely said, "Let's report it to the authorities! Maybe the government can help us and expose the masked men's conspiracy!"

The two embarked on their journey once more, heading straight for the Kyoto Prefecture Yamen.

However, when they rang the drum at the government office full of hope, they were met with a cold prison cell.

"You two are making a racket late at night, disturbing the peace, and you keep talking about masked men and conspiracies. You are clearly spreading rumors and have ulterior motives!" An official in official robes looked at them coldly, his eyes full of disdain.

"Sir, what we're saying is true! Those masked men really exist. They killed our companions and are trying to harm us!" A Ming argued passionately.

The official remained unmoved, waving his hand to signal the constables to take them to the jail. "Take them away and interrogate them thoroughly!"

Xiao Qing and A Ming were roughly pushed into a dark and damp cell, and the iron door slammed shut, cutting them off from all contact with the outside world.

"This...how is this possible?" A Ming muttered in disbelief, never imagining that he would end up in prison for seeking justice.

Xiao Qing was also taken aback, but she quickly regained her composure.

She knew that anger and despair were useless at this moment; only by finding a way out could she clear her name and reveal the truth.

"A Ming, we can't give up like this." Xiao Qing clenched her fists, looking at A Ming with unwavering determination. "We have to find a way to escape and continue tracking down those masked men."

Upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope flashed in A Ming's eyes. "But... how do we escape?"

The girl was also at a loss.

Although she was skilled in martial arts, the two of them were just ordinary people and had no way to escape from the prison.

Just as Xiao Qing and A Ming were sinking into despair, and the oppressive atmosphere in the cell was so intense that you could almost hear your own heartbeat, a sudden clanging of chains broke the silence.

The two men looked up abruptly and saw a figure draped in Black Robe, his face hidden under a hood, appear silently before them. A cold glint flashed in his hand, clearly a sharp dagger.

"So you're the two meddlesome guys?" The man in black's voice was deep and cold, like a winter wind that pierced the heart.

Xiao Qing and A Ming exchanged a glance, both seeing terror in each other's eyes.

Because this man in black was the same man in black they had seen at the camp.

Xiao Qing quickly shielded A Ming behind her. Although her hands trembled slightly with nervousness, her voice was unusually firm. "We only told the truth and exposed the evil deeds, why do you want to kill us?"

The man in black sneered, offering no reply, but slowly raised his dagger, preparing to end it all.

At this critical moment...

"Snap!"

The sound of the prison door chains being unlocked rang out.

A disheveled young man came out.

Before he could even speak, he crashed directly into the man in black.

"Who are you?" With an angry shout, the Dark Shadow and the man in black engaged in a fierce battle, their movements so fast that it was difficult to keep up with.

Xiao Qing and A Ming were surprised to find that the person who came to their rescue was a prisoner from the next cell. He was burly and his eyes revealed a strength and intelligence that could not be underestimated.

The man in black was gradually losing ground.

"Why are you meddling in other people's business?" The man in black was clearly caught off guard by this turn of events, and his tone was tinged with panic.

"Hmph, I don't like seeing children die in front of me." The young man said as he intensified his attack, each punch and kick precise and powerful, gradually gaining the upper hand.

After a fierce struggle, the man in black was finally defeated.

He was knocked unconscious with a single punch, and the dagger in his hand fell to the ground.

The criminal did not immediately rush forward to finish off the victim. Instead, he cautiously looked around to make sure there were no other threats before slowly approaching Xiao Qing and A Ming.

"Are you alright?" His voice was rough, but it carried a hint of concern.

Xiao Qing and A Ming quickly shook their heads, their gratitude evident. "Thank you, we're fine. May I ask who you are...?" Xiao Qing asked, trying to make out the young man's face, but he maintained a certain distance, unwilling to reveal too much.

"No need to ask further. I simply can't stand this kind of bullying." The young man said calmly, his gaze sweeping over the man in black on the ground. "This guy came for you. Looks like you've offended someone powerful."

Xiao Qing's heart skipped a beat. Recalling the masked men she had encountered before, her resolve to uncover the truth only strengthened. "We did run into some trouble, but we didn't do anything wrong; we were just seeking justice."

Upon hearing this, a hint of amusement flashed in the young man's eyes. "Justice—that word is rarely seen in this world anymore. But you should also be careful; you won't always be so lucky as to encounter someone like me."

Xiao Qing nodded and said gratefully, "We will. Do you have any way to help us leave here? We have very important things to do."

The young man nodded. "Leaving here isn't difficult. Just come with me, and don't tell anyone what just happened..."

Xiao Qing and A Ming nodded quickly in assurance. They knew that the mysterious young man's willingness to help was already a great favor, and they would certainly not repay kindness with enmity.

With the help of the young man, Xiao Qing and A Ming escaped from the prison under the cover of night through a hidden underground passage.

The moment they regained their freedom, they both felt incredibly relieved and excited, as if even breathing had become exceptionally easy.

"We must find Lord Ye as soon as possible and tell him everything." Xiao Qing gazed at the stars in the night sky, her eyes shining with determination.

A Ming nodded. He knew that only Lord Ye could provide them with protection and support, and expose the masked men's conspiracy.

However, when they arrived at Lord Ye's residence, they found it heavily surrounded and engulfed in flames, clearly indicating that it had been attacked.

Xiao Qing and A Ming's hearts sank to the bottom. They knew that this struggle was far more complicated and cruel than they had imagined.

"Quick, hide!"

Seeing guards coming to put out the fire, the two quickly hid in the darkness.

"What should we do now?" A Ming frowned. "Now even Lord Ye's residence is gone, where are we supposed to find Lord Ye?"